The FINANCIAL — According to a survey from AOL Travel, the economy will not slow holiday travel.
Despite extremely high ticket prices, travelers are using various tactics to manage their travel budgets. To save on costs nearly 55% are cutting back on expensive activities and an increasing number of travelers — almost 30% this year — are shortening the length of their travel and skipping hotels, opting instead to stay with friends and family.
"Holiday travelers continue to be cost conscious and resourceful when it comes to managing their travel budgets," said Beth Caulfield, Editor-in-Chief of AOL Travel. "Although this will be one of the busiest holiday travel seasons in recent memory, consumers are being smart about how they spend their money by traveling during off-peak times, lodging with family and friends, and avoiding pricey add-ons like luggage fees."
Other top-line survey results include:
• 29% of travelers cited cost as the most stressful part of holiday air travel. 24% of travelers indicated delays are the most stressful part of holiday air travel.
• 70% of travelers have had their holiday plans disrupted by airline delays and cancellations with almost 7% never actually making it to their destinations.
• Who causes the most travel stress? 24% percent of travelers said children contribute the most stress, 17% named parents, while 13% named spouses/significant others as the primary cause of holiday travel stress.
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